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Trilateral Meeting Could Be Decisive

The head of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee says the trilateral meeting between Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, US Secretary of State John Kerry and European Union's Catherine Ashton in Muscat, Oman on November 9-10 could decide the future of nuclear talks with the major powers.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi said, "The trilateral talks between the foreign minister, the US secretary of state and the EU's coordinator can determine the future of talks and the possibility of reaching a comprehensive agreement," IRNA reported.

The lawmaker said the reports by some Western media about the number of centrifuges that Iran would maintain under a final nuclear deal are "politically motivated," adding that any speculations in this regard should be avoided.

"We should wait to see the results of the coming negotiations to be held in Muscat," he said.

Boroujerdi denied the rumors that Iran has agreed to decrease its centrifuges in the latest round of high-level nuclear talks which was held in Vienna last month and said, "Any agreement in this relation would have required Iran to take concrete steps in this regard."

He described the number of operating centrifuges as a major source of dispute between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany).

The parliamentarian said, "The dispute over the number of centrifuges seems to be the reason behind the failure of (previous efforts) to reach an agreement," adding Iran is insistent that it should have an industrial-scale uranium enrichment program to meet its domestic needs.

Baseless Rumors

"The rumors disseminated by some Western media on a decrease in the number of centrifuges in Iran are definitely baseless, and they may be… meant to sow discord in Iran," he commented.

On the possibility of the extension of nuclear talks beyond the self-imposed November 24 target date, the lawmaker said, "The negotiating partners have shown no preference to extend the talks," adding, "If the P5+1 countries miss the opportunity of the remaining time to the deadline, there is no clear future for the talks. All should wait to see what will happen in the negotiations."

Following the trilateral meeting, political directors of Iran and the six major powers are scheduled to hold a meeting in Muscat next Tuesday to help advance the talks on a long-term settlement to the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.